Work fabricating machine



May 20, 1958 E. L. LAUNDER WORK FABRICATING MACHINE 18 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 24, 1953 May 20, 1958 Filed Feb. 24, 1953 E. L. LAUNDER ETAL woRk FABRICATING MACHINE 18 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TORS Zrnde 1.1a no er 14/42 M /0z(d0n Max fica erz c/VJ) After/very May 20, 1958 Filed Feb. 24, 1953 E. 1.. LAUNDER ET AL WORK FABRICATI'NG MACHINE 18 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS 5/ (e L laana er 4/49 M [aka an Ma 1: fleaer/c/K J}? Afforn qy May 20, 1958 E. 1.. LAUNDER ETAL 2,835,786

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WORK FABRICATING MACHINE l8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Feb. 24, 1953 INVENTORS frnc'e Z- launder- '4//en MZaaa on M07: Wade/76A J'r- Aztorngy E. L- LAUNDER ET AL May 20, 1958 WORK FABRICATING MACHINE 18 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Feb. 24, 1955 May 20, 1958 E. LAUNDER ET AL 2,835,786

WORK FABRICATING MACHINE Filed Feb. 24, 1953 24 I 18 Sheets-Sheet 1O HWIIHI A 4//en M [Qua/on INVENTORS Ernie 4. Lean o er- $2 66 LLJ After/79.9

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WORK FABRICATING MACHINE Filed Feb. 24, 1953 18 Shegts-Sheet l1 INVENTORS' frna'e 4. Joana er l/Aen 11/. Zane o Max fiea erz'c/f J7.

Afforney May'20, 1 5 E. 1 LAUNDER ET AL 2,835,786

WORK l ABRICATING MACHINE Filed Feb. 24, 1953 v 1s Sheets-Sheet 12 INVENTORS 5'01? 4. launder 14/09 Mloaa an After) ey May 20, 1958 E. LAUNDER ET AL I 2,835,786

WORK FABRICATING MACHINE l8 Sheets-Sheet 14 Filed Feb. 24, 1953 May 20, 1958 E. L. LAUNDER ET AL 2,835,786

WORK FABRICATING MACHINE Filed Feb. 24, 1953 18 Sheets-Sheet l5 m 3 R g N IN VEN TORS fivwe 1,. launder /4 /en h/l [vac/on Max Wade-rick J7:

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' WORK FABRICATING MACHINE Filed Feb. 24, 1953 18 Sheets-Sheet l7 QQ H K LL

INVENTORS Erna'e 4. Aaano er /7//en Mloaa on Ali a/n a;

United States Patent WORK FABRECA'HNG MACHINE Ernie L. Launder, Montcbello, Allen W. London,

Downey, and Max Frederick, Jr., Whittier, Ca1if., assignors, by mesne assignments, to H. a L. Tooth cmpany, Montebello, Calif., a corporation of California Application February 24, 1953, Serial No. 338,292

28 Claims. (Cl. 219-124) This invention has to do with a work fabricating machine, it being a general object of the invention to provide a machine which is operable to handle an electric arc and welding material in connection with work or parts to be assembled, so that the parts are accurately, securely and dependably held as the arc is maintained and the welding material fed, and while relative movement is generated between the work and the are where the material is fed, to the end that the work is welded at various parts, for instance, continuously about a particular portion, or as circumstances may require.

This application is copending with our applications: Serial No. 631,573, filed December 31, 1956, entitled Welding Head; Serial No. 674,754, filed July 29, 1957, entitled Mounting for a Welding Head in a Work Fabrieating Machine; and, Serial No. 718,316, filed February 28, 1958, entitled Table and Clamp for Supporting and Holding Work in a Fabricating Machine.

The machine which is the object of the present invention can be used to advantage in the fabricating of various parts by welding. However, it is particularly practical and can be used to great advantage in the fabricating of digger teeth, or the like, and it will therefore be described in this connection. When reference is made to the work acted upon as being a digger tooth or as being digger teeth, it is to be understood that this particular reference is made merely to facilitate an understanding of the invention and furthermore, when a particular tooth construction is referred to, it is to be undersetood that such detail is set forth merely to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

it is a general object of this invention to provide a machine adapted to readily receive work parts that are to the assembled, and which carries an electrode at or from which a rod of welding material is fed, and which serves to move the work parts and the electrode relatively and in a predetermined manner, to the end that the parts are welded one to the other and, as the cycle of the machine is repeated, successive like work parts are likewise welded.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of the general character referred to, which is such that the work parts are readily applicable to the machine and are effectively held and electrically connected pre liminary to the machine going into action to apply welding thereto.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of the general character referred to, whereby a line of welding is applicable to the work parts to establish a continuous loop or ring of welding, the form of which corresponds to the work parts and may, for example, be rectangular in plan configuration when the work parts require that form of weld.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the general character referred to, including numerous improved elements which, considered individually, incorporate features of the present invention.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of the general character referred to, characterized by a Patented May 20, 1958 simple combination, arrangement parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the general character referred to, characterized by construction and arrangement of parts which make for simple, inexpensive manufacture, as well as practical, dependable, rapid operation.

The various objects and features of the invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and applications of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine provided by the present invention, being a view showing the front end of the machine and showing work in the machine and the parts positioned or related ready for the machine to start a cycle of operation. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine, being a view taken as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view illustrating a part of the means provided for supplying flux, showing a portion of the structure in section to illustrate the details thereof. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a part of the machine, primarily the table of the machine, being a view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical transverse view taken substantially as indicated by line 5-5 on Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal view of the structure shown in Fig. 5, being a view taken as indicated by line 6-6 on Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 5, being a view taken as indicted by line 7-7 on Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 6, being a sectional view taken as indicated by line 8-8 on Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 6, being a view taken as indicated by line 9-9 on Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 7, being a and relationship of ,view taken as indicated by line 10-10 on Fig. 7. Fig.

11 is an enlarged detailed sectional view at the spindle portion of the machine, being a view taken as indicated by line 11-11 on Fig. 1. Fig. 12 is an enlarged detailed plan section of the structure shown in Fig. 11, being a view taken as indicated by line 12-12 on Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is an enlarged detailed plan sectional view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 11, being a view taken as indicated by line 13-13 on Fig. 11. Fig. 14 is an enlarged detailed plan section of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 11, being a view taken as indicaed by line 14-14 on Fig. 11. Fig. 15 is an enlarged detailed plan sectional view of a portion of the structure, being a view taken as indicated by line 15-15 on Fig. 1. Fig. 16 is an enlarged view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 15 with the parts in a position different from that shown in Fig. 15. Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 16, with the parts positioned different from that in Figs. 15 and 16. Fig. 18 is a detailed vertical sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 15, being a view taken as indicated by line 18-18 on Fig. 15. Fig. 19 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 18, being a view taken as indicated by line 19-19 on Fig. 18. Fig. 20 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 20-20 on Fig. 18. Fig. 21 is an enlarged view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 22 is an enlarged view taken as indicated by line 22-22 on Fig. 21. Fig. 23 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 23-23 on Fig. 22. Fig. 24 is an enlarged detailed transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 24-24 on Fig. 22. Fig. 25 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 6 at the left hand end thereof. Fig. 26 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken at work located in the machine and showing a. the general relationship of parts occurring in the machine at the work operated on thereby. Fig. 27 is a sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 26, being a view takenas indicated by line 2727 on Fig. 26. Fig. 28 is a perspective view of parts shown in Figs. 26 and 27, indicating the position of the welding rod after the first longitudinal movement has occurred as between the work and the rod and after the rod has completed its first turning movement. Fig. 29 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 28 illustrating the operation of the machine advanced from that shown in Fig. 28 and yet uncompleted. Fig. 30 is a perspective view similar to Figs. 28 and 29 showing the clamp of the machine removed from the work and showing the relative positioning of the parts as the operation of the machine terminates, except that the welding rod is shown turned from the terminal or starting position ready to make the first line of weld at the right hand end of the work. Fig. 31 is a perspective view of the work as it is finished by the machine and the condition in which it is removed from the machine. Fig. 32 is a perspective view of the work as shown in Fig. 31, with the two units of work parted. Fig. 33 is a view illustrating a unit of work of slightly different form from that illustrated in the preceding figures and showing it as it is removed from the machine, being a figure corresponding to Fig. 31. Fig. 34 is a view of the work shown in Fig. 33, with the work units parted, being a view corre sponding to Fig. 32. Fig. 35 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a form of construction somewhat different than the simple form shown in Fig. l and showing a construction characterized by a table having a slide operating transversely thereof. Fig. 36 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of the flux control valve shown in Fig. 35. Fig. 37 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 3737 on Fig. 35. Fig. 38 is an enlarged longitudinal view of the structure shown in Fig.

35, being a view similar generally to Fig. 35 and showing in particular the table construction including a slide that operates transversely thereof. Fig. 39 is a fragmentary perspective view of the structure shown in Figs. 35 and 38, certain of the parts being broken away to show details of construction. Fig. 40 is a longitudinal sectional view of the portion of the structure, being a view taken substantially as indicated by line ib-40 on Fig. 38. Fig. 41 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the hydraulic system as provided by the present invention, and 42, 43, 44 and 45 are diagrammatic views illustrating the electrical control system as provided by the present invention.

As has been pointed out, the present invention provides a machine that can be used to advantage to assemble or fabricate various parts or work and, since it is particularly practical as applied to the fabrication of digger teeth, it is shown in a form designed for that purpose. and in the drawings, digger teeth of typical form are set forth. For example, in Figs. 31 and 32, there is illus trated a digger tooth cap construction characterized by a fiat heavy blade 10 and a cup-like sheet metal body 11 which is applied to one side of the blade to establish a tapered or converging cup-shaped opening 13 adapted to receive a tooth shank. As a digger tooth cap of the type referred to is used, the blade is ordinarily uppermost and the body of the cap is at what may be referred to as the back side 14 of the blade. The cap construction as shown in the drawings involves the body 11 having sides 15 and an end 16 that engage the back side 14 of the blade, and the machine of the present invention is provided to apply welding Z to join the sides 15 and end 35 of the body 11 to the blade 1%.

To facilitate rapid production it is preferred that the machine of the present invention be employed to handle two caps simultaneously, in which case the blades 10 of these two caps are arranged withtheir bottom sides 14 end to end, so that these blades are oppositely disposed. The bodies 11 of the two caps are facing upwardly and arranged on the blades, and in the case illustrated, up to and including Fig. 33 of the drawings, the abutting ends 17 of the blades 10 are flat and the cap design is such that the bodies 11 have ends 18 which abut. With the cap parts just referred to arranged as shown in Fig. 31 of the drawings, a single, continuous line of welding 2 may be applied in rectangular form to extend around the two related caps, effectively joining the bodies of the caps to the blades, and when the welding has been completed the two caps are parted by severing or breaking the welding that occurs where the caps adjoin.

in the form of cap illustrated in Figs. 33 and 34, the blades 10, instead of having flat ends 17 that abut as above described, have tangs 17 on their ends, which tangs abut or adjoin, making it desirable to provide disposable inserts 19 between the opposing ends 17 to receive or carry the welding Z, which inserts break out as indicated in Fig. 34 and can be disposed of without appreciable loss.

In the following description of the machine, it can be assumed that either of the cap constructions just described is being handled, since the action of the machine in either case is the same. In the first form of the invention illustrated, that is, in the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 36 inclusive, there is illustrated a simple form of the invention characterized by manual application of an assembly of parts, as shown in either Figs. 31 or 33, immediately preceding each operation of the machine upon such an assembly, whereas in the other form of the invention, illustrated in Figs. 35 to 40, inclusive, there is illustrated a form of machine embodying the invention having the general characteristics of the machine first referred to, but differing therefrom in that it simultaneously handles two assemblies of parts, one in the course of being worked upon by the machine, while the other is being installed ready to be worked upon in the next operation of the machine.

The first or more simple machine, as set forth in detail in Figs. 1 to 34 inclusive, includes primarily a frame A characterized by a rigid horizontally disposed elongate base 20 carried by suitable supporting structure, standards 21 projecting upward from the frame and supporting a horizontal top beam or header 22 and having rails 23 on the header 22 extending longitudinally thereof.

A work carrier B is provided and is characterized by a horizontally disposed elongate table 24 which in the form of the invention under consideration, is a simple, flat, horizontally disposed, rigid plate.

A fixture C is provided on the table 24 of carrier B, and where the table is elongate and extends to the forward end portion of the machine, the fixture is preferably fixed on or located at the forward end portion of the table. The fixture as provided by the present invention is characterized by a rest 25 for the work, and a retainer 26 cooperating with the rest and preferably serving to hold not only the work, but also flux employed as the welding operation is carried out.

A mounting means D is provided supporting the table 24 of carrier B on or from the base 20 of frame A for free movement or reciprocation of the table lengthwise.

An operating means E is provided to reciprocate or operate the carrier B relative to the base of the frame, and an operating means F is provided to operate the retainer 26 of the fixture C.

A work retaining means G is provided and is adapted to engage and hold work on or in the fixture C and is characterized by a shiftable jaw 28. A mounting means H is provided for the retaining means G and preferably includes a vertically shiftable stem 29, an arm 30 projecting from the stem and carrying the jaw 28, a carriage 31 carrying the stem for vertical reciprocation, rails 32 on the table 24 extending longitudinally thereof, and rollers 33 on the carriage 31 and engaging and supported by the rails 32.

An operating means I is provided to operate the stem of 

